All things considered, Ben didn’t take the news of your second, and (possibly) third tail too poorly. He seemed more concerned with your immediate well-being than any future problems further down the line. You kept reassuring him that you were fine, but according to both Ben and Mercy, you apparently had a history of ignoring your own injuries. On that, the two of them could agree, even if they’ve never had a proper conversation with one another.

You were about to consider introducing them, when you noticed your ethereal guide disperse upon coming in contact with a giant red bird-woman carrying a shaggy black dog and a buff, helmeted zombie. You were very nearly swept away by a single flap of her mighty wings, and she looked just as surprised to see you as well. But nothing compared to the reaction that Ben and Louise shared when they recognized each other.

“Louise!? What’re you doing here?” Ben asked, clinging beside you on a sheer vertical surface.

The French vampiress moved so fast that you could barely see it, reappearing in front of you and Ben and wrapping her arms around you both. She lavished you with kisses, and you couldn’t help but laugh at the ticklish sensation that she was giving you. Ben was similarly flustered by her sudden appearance, and her even more sudden display of affection.

“Monsieur Huntsman! Petit Cindy! It is good to see you both!” she exclaimed, not struggling at all to hold your combined weight with her vampiric strength.

“You too! Today’s been chock full of surprises.” he said, rubbing her back with his free hand.

Louise pulled away slightly, but her face was still close enough to the point where he should be able to feel her breath. You were starting to wonder whether that was intentional on her part, when Ben broke eye contact to stare up at the swords she was carrying.

“You kept them.” he observed, a note of pride in his voice.

Still carrying you in her arms, Louise gently floated up to the roof of the building you'd been clinging to, and set you both down.

“Well, of course. They were your final gift to me before my departure.” she insisted. “And I am glad to have been given them, considering the circumstances.”

They both turned to stare out at the city. It was still crawling with zombies, but had gotten a little better, thanks in no small part to your efforts.

“I'm a firm believer in the principle of giving a girl a practical gift that she can actually use.”

She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, and the corner of her mouth turned upwards in a slight grin.

“Oh yeah. Doesn't get much more practical than a pair of silver swords, I tell ya.” you said, walking over to give Shaggy a scratch behind the ear. “Hey, old man. You miss me?”

(Cont.)